How to hire an engagement/project manager

How to hire an engagement/project manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step engagement/project manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an engagement/project manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new engagement/project manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an engagement/project manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The engagement/project manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An engagement/project manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, engagement/project managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of engagement/project managers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Engagement/Project Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Engagement/Project Manager		$26-60
   Manager, Program Management	A program management manager is a professional who guides project managers and oversees and coordinates an organization's projects, products, and other strategic initiatives. The day-to-day responsibilities of a program manager include planning the overall program, managing the program's budget and the main program documents, and defining the program governance... Show more	$39-74
   Lead Program Manager	A lead program manager is responsible for coordinating departmental projects and ensuring that the programs adhere to the business guidelines and functions to achieve long-term goals and objectives. Lead program managers strategize techniques in developing business plans and managing budget allocation across departments... Show more	$42-75

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Management
   • Salesforce
   • CRM
   • Project Scope
   • Infrastructure
   • PMP
   • Architecture
   • Process Improvement
   • Excellent Client
   • QA
   • Project Documentation
   • Status Reports
   • PMO
   • Governance

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Plan and manage multiple projects for multiple clients that implement network infrastructure, application and database management and reporting tools.
   • Perform problem resolution, cost recovery, manage inventory of network components, direct RFP process for procurement of telecommunications services.
   • Provide PMO governance and oversight of programs / project deliverables and compliance to policy management.
   • Analyze customers' technical infrastructure, business process, and go-to-market strategies to identify opportunities for improvement.
   • Report and track deliverables using excel reporting and dynamics CRM.
   • Build SharePoint on KPN network for compliance reporting & management.

   More engagement/project manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the engagement/project manager job description is a good way to get more applicants. An engagement/project manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for an engagement/project manager in Tennessee may be lower than in Rhode Island, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level engagement/project manager. Additionally, an engagement/project manager with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average engagement/project manager salary

   $83,954yearly

   $40.36 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level engagement/project manager salary

   $55,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average engagement/project manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$111,557	$54
   2	New York	$103,349	$50
   3	District of Columbia	$103,000	$50
   4	New Jersey	$98,932	$48
   5	Ohio	$98,281	$47
   6	Michigan	$96,653	$46
   7	Massachusetts	$94,318	$45
   8	New Hampshire	$93,989	$45
   9	Nevada	$93,196	$45
   10	Washington	$92,097	$44
   11	Virginia	$88,516	$43
   12	Colorado	$84,907	$41
   13	Maryland	$83,259	$40
   14	Texas	$83,136	$40
   15	North Carolina	$82,588	$40
   16	Iowa	$80,886	$39
   17	New Mexico	$78,849	$38
   18	Minnesota	$78,598	$38
   19	Florida	$73,208	$35
   20	Tennessee	$73,196	$35

   Average engagement/project manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$143,682	$69.08	40
   2	Capgemini	$134,758	$64.79	59
   3	Workday	$124,086	$59.66	6
   4	QuintilesIMS	$113,948	$54.78	19
   5	Square	$103,980	$49.99
   6	Salesforce	$95,777	$46.05	35
   7	Stanford University	$93,961	$45.17	18
   8	Perot Systems	$90,132	$43.33
   9	Deloitte	$88,545	$42.57	185
   10	Siemens	$87,251	$41.95	38
   11	San Diego Gas & Electric	$86,518	$41.60
   12	Discovery	$86,487	$41.58
   13	mPulse Mobile	$83,789	$40.28	1
   14	Partners Healthcare Solutions Inc	$83,585	$40.19
   15	C G Co	$83,585	$40.19
   16	Brightwheel	$83,004	$39.91
   17	Scripps Health	$82,680	$39.75
   18	Delta Air Lines	$81,256	$39.07	2
   19	Molina Healthcare	$80,830	$38.86	602
   20	University of California	$78,430	$37.71	25

4. Writing an engagement/project manager job description

   A job description for an engagement/project manager role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an engagement/project manager job description:

   Engagement/project manager job description example

   At Scripps Health, you will experience the pride, support, and respect that has been repeatedly recognized as one of the nation's Top 100 Places to Work.
   
   You'll be surrounded by people committed to making a difference in the lives of their patients and their teammates. So if you're open to change, go ahead and unlock your potential.
   
   The Project Manager Community Engagement Research (CEnR) will manage Community Engagement activities on behalf of Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute. Primary responsibilities will include project administration, partner outreach and engagement, and academic collaboration.
   
   Project administration includes supporting strategic program planning and management; working with project teams to promote community engagement; project reporting; designing and managing evaluation systems; convening advisory board meetings; and presenting and co-authoring publications on community engagement work.
   
   Partner outreach and engagement includes engaging with health equity stakeholders to promote partnerships and excellence in research, clinical care, and public health practice; assisting in the development and implementation of health initiatives to reduce health inequities.
   
   Academic collaboration includes acting within the Scripps-SDSU partnership to leverage and enhance internal and external partnerships aligned with its mission, vision, and values; supporting scientist and trainee development in the context of community engagement; and supporting colleagues to incorporate community engagement into existing curricula and learning outcomes.
   
   This is a full time, salaried position located in La Jolla. This position is grant funded through September 2025. This is a joint appointment position with San Diego State University and the Institute for Public Health.
   #LI-DP1
   
   Qualifications
   Preferred Education/Experience/Specialized Skills/Certification: Spanish/English bilingual Prior experience in leading research protocols in a healthcare environment Required Education/Experience/Specialized Skills: PhD in Public Health, Epidemiology or Psychology 3-5 years of progressively responsible experience in management engineering, project management, consulting, and or analysis Experience leading and facilitating work teams, with superior facilitation, interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills Demonstrated ability to conduct and interpret quantitative and qualitative analysis Proficiency with: MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel and MS Project

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right engagement/project manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your engagement/project manager job on Zippia to find and recruit engagement/project manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting engagement/project managers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new engagement/project manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect engagement/project manager candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new engagement/project manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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